Integrated screen protector and holder

ABSTRACT

An integrated protective apparatus extruded from a PVC material for semi-rigidly attaching a planar protective element to a lens assembly and chassis in a projection television (PTV). The apparatus includes a plurality of channels, each configured to accept one or more of a plurality of lenses or protective elements. The apparatus can include molded protrusions that can be arranged to apply a retentive force against the lenses and protective elements supported within the channels.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to the field of projection televisions,and more particularly to an apparatus for protecting a cathode ray tubeduring storage and shipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In projection television (PTV) applications, a high intensitylight beam with a video image is projected through a series of lensesonto a viewing plane. To preserve image quality, the surfaces of thelenses must be kept free of dirt, dust, and smudges that can result fromdirect handling of the PTV during movement and storage.

[0003] Consequently, an additional planar protective element istypically attached over the surfaces to be protected during themanufacturing and shipping process and removed when the PTV is installedat a destination location. Conventional protective planar elements aretypically attached to the PTV using adhesive or mechanical fasteningelements. This results in time being added to the manufacturing andinstallation process, which together with the adhesives and fasteningelements add unnecessary cost to the finished PTV.

[0004] Fasteners and spacers are conventionally used to mount the lensesin a PTV chassis enclosure. However, at present, such conventionalmounting apparatus do not include means for holding a protective elementIt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide such anapparatus which will eliminate the need for a separate manufacturingstep to add the protective element, thereby reducing the number offabrication steps, the materials required, and thus the cost of a PTV.

SUMMARY

[0005] An integrated support apparatus for semi-rigidly attaching aplanar protective element to a lens assembly and chassis in a projectiontelevision (PTV). The apparatus can be extruded from a PVC material. Theapparatus includes an attachment interface comprising a multitude ofchannels each being constructed to accept in mating arrangement one ormore lenses and/or protective elements along an edge dimension of thelenses and/or protective elements.

[0006] The apparatus can include molded protrusions that can be arrangedto apply retentive pressure against major planar surfaces of the lensesand/or protective element to be attached and supported in the receivingchannels. Both rigid structural elements and resilient padding elementsof the apparatus can be manufactured together by simultaneouslyco-extruding a rigid PVC material and a resilient PVC material,respectively. The apparatus can further include protrusions for specialseparation boundaries in the PTV.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 shows a side view of a first exemplary embodiment of amounting apparatus for a projection television (PTV) for mounting aplurality of lenses and a protective planar element in a predeterminedspatial arrangement according to the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a section of the mountingapparatus shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009]FIG. 1 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a mountingapparatus 10 for selectively mounting a planar protective element 12over an exterior surface of a focal assembly of a projection television(PTV) in a predetermined spatial arrangement according to the presentinvention. Element 12 is clear, thereby enabling the PTV to be viewedwithout having to remove element 12. Apparatus 10 is permanently mountedto the PTV, with protective element 12 able to be selectively removedfrom said apparatus.

[0010] The focal assembly, which is comprised of a plurality ofprojection lenses, e.g., a fresnel lens 14 and a lenticular lens 16, ispreferably supported and retained in a channel-like mounting slot 18 ina generally rigid manner. Similarly, protective element 12 is supportedand retained in a second channel-like mounting slot 20. Apparatus 10 caninclude any number of mounting slots. One or more resilient pads 22 canbe added to apparatus 10 to cushion the interfaces of the focal assemblyand protective element 12, respectively, from the weight of suchelements. Pads 22 are not required in all applications, and their usewill depend on the characteristics of a particular element beingsupported, i.e. weight, fragility, etc. Pads 22 can be separatelyattached when used.

[0011] A first resilient, semi-rigid protrusion 24 is preferablyincluded to hold the focal assembly in place with sufficient lateralforce in mounting slot 18, so that lenses 14 and 16 cannot move, eitheras an integrated focal assembly or one lens relative to the other.Planar protective element 12 can also be frictionally supported to thesame degree using a second resilient protrusion 26. The structure ofprotrusions 24 and 26 can be designed so that they exert sufficientlateral pressure in the desired direction. This will normally involveeither an angular orientation of protrusions 24 and 26 relative to themounting plane and/or a curved or coiled structural arrangement

[0012] Apparatus 10 can also include predetermined spacing or gapsbetween protective element 12 and lenses 14 and 16, using planarseparating protrusions that comprise the outer walls of mounting slots18 and 20. Such spacing prevents protective element 12 and lenses 14 and16 from being damaged during drops, bumps and routine movement of thePTV. FIG. 1 shows an exemplary 1.5 mil air gap 28 between the front ofthe lens assembly and protective element 12. It should be noted thatalthough FIG. 1 shows a non-spacer arrangement between fresnel lens 14and lenticular lens 16, a particular application can include spacers andstill be within the scope of the invention. To properly fit and secureapparatus 10 within a PTV chassis, various standoffs 30 and hooks orsnaps 32 can also be included as part of apparatus 10.

[0013]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a section of the mountingapparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, apparatus 10 includesslots 18 and 20 for receiving and retaining the focal assembly comprisedof fresnel lens 14 and lenticular lens 16, and planar protective element12 with separator 34 juxtaposed between them. Like the other componentsof apparatus 10, separator 34 is an extruded component. The finishedapparatus 10 is then cut to an appropriate length.

[0014] Apparatus 10 can be quickly and inexpensively fabricated usingconventional extrusion methods. Apparatus 10 is preferably fabricatedfrom extruded PVC, although it can be fabricated from any similarmaterial. Pads 22 are preferably fabricated from a heat-resistant andchemically treated portion of apparatus 10. Alternatively, pads 22 canbe fabricated from simultaneous co-extrusion of a flexible PVC materialand a rigid PVC material.

[0015] Once apparatus 10 is fabricated, lenses 14 and 16 can beinstalled in mounting slot 18 in a clean-room environment to preventdust contamination of the assembly. The lens/mounting slot assembly canthen be installed in the PTV chassis. After the lens/mounting slotassembly is installed, planar protective element 12 can be installedinto slot 20. The PTV will then be ready for shipment and/or storage,with protective element 12 being removed from apparatus 10 when the PTVis to be used.

[0016] Numerous modifications to and alternative embodiments of thepresent invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in viewof the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to beconstrued as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching thoseskilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. Detailsof the embodiments may be varied without departing from the spirit ofthe invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which comewithin the scope of the appended claims is reserved.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective apparatus for a projectiontelevision, comprising mounting means for attaching a protectiveapparatus to a projection television chassis, the projection televisionhaving at least two lenses; a first support means for supporting the atleast two lenses in a first position; a second support means forsupporting a selectively removable protective element in a secondposition; and fastening means for securing the at least two lenses andthe protective element in the first and second support means.
 2. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first support means includesa channel for receiving the at least two lenses.
 3. The apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the second support means includes achannel for receiving the protective element;
 4. The apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein the at least two lenses comprise a focal assembly ofthe projection television.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4,wherein the first channel has a width substantially equal to a thicknessof the focal assembly.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 3, whereinthe second channel has a width substantially equal to a thickness of theprotective element.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theapparatus further includes a separation means for providing a voidbetween the at least two lenses.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the apparatus further includes a separation means for providinga void between at least one of the at least two lenses and theprotective element.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theapparatus further includes a resilient padding material to protect theat least two lenses.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theapparatus further includes a resilient padding material to protect theprotective element.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein theresilient padding material is extruded from a PVC material.
 12. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is fabricatedusing an extrusion process.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the fastening means exerts a compressive force on the least twolenses in a direction perpendicular to a major planar dimension of theleast two lenses.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thefastening means exerts a compressive force on the protective element ina direction perpendicular to a major planar dimension of the protectiveelement.
 15. A protective apparatus for a projection television,comprising mounting means for attaching a protective apparatus to aprojection television chassis, the projection television having twolenses; a first receiving means for supporting the two lenses; a secondreceiving means for supporting a selectively removable protectiveelement; a first securing means for securing the two lenses in the firstreceiving means; and a second securing means for securing the protectiveelement in the second receiving means.
 16. The apparatus according toclaim 15, wherein the first receiving means includes a channel forreceiving the two lenses and the second receiving means includes achannel for receiving the protective element.
 17. The apparatusaccording to claim 15, wherein the channel in the first receiving meanshas a width substantially equal to a thickness of the at least twolenses and the channel in the second receiving means has a widthsubstantially equal to a thickness of the protective element.
 18. Theapparatus according to claim 15, wherein the apparatus further includesa separation means for providing a void between the two lenses.
 19. Theapparatus according to claim 15, wherein the apparatus further includesa resilient padding material to protect the two lenses.
 20. Theapparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first securing means exertsa compressive force on the two lenses in a direction perpendicular to amajor planar dimension of the two lenses and the second securing meansexerts a compressive force on the protective element in a directionperpendicular to a major planar dimension of the protective element.